Case study

West Mercia Supplies (WMS)

Evaluating future options and effecting change to satisfy four public sector owners

WMS is a UK purchasing and distribution operation jointly owned by Shropshire County Council, The Borough of Telford and Wrekin, Herefordshire Council and Worcester County Council. WMS was established in 1987, based on the staff and assets of the Shropshire County Council supplies organisation, as a general procurement service, utilities procurement consortium and an educational and office supplies distributor. Each authority makes use of WMS procurement services and purchases utilities and office supplies as required. However the majority of the business revolves around the provision of educational supplies to schools both within and outside the geographic boundaries of the four owning authorities.

The four owners variously regarded WMS as: a key service provider; centre of excellence; local public sector employer; and a valuable, potentially saleable asset. They  commissioned an independent review of the business to evaluate options for the future, with the challenging brief that a single recommendation had to be made which would be in the best interests of all four authorities. In response to that brief, PA put together an assignment team consisting of purchasing, distribution and business strategy experts to review the WMS business in terms of financial viability, market competitiveness, operational effectiveness and customer satisfaction.

PA established and launched a business change process to take the business forward into its second decade as a public sector center of excellence, delivering value to both its customers and its owners.

A follow-up visit one year on confirms WMS as a vibrant and customer-focused operation. Key organisational change has been delivered together with all the financial targets required to meet the agreed outcomes.